Bafana Bafana fall short against 10-man Egypt, knockout hopes pushed to final group test

EGYPT 1 (1) Salah 45+1’

BAFANA BAFANA 0 (0)

Bafana Bafana failed to give their supporters a post-Christmas present after losing 1-0 to Egypt in their second group-stage clash at Stade Adrar in Agadir on Boxing Day.

With this result, Egypt qualified for the knockout stage with a game to spare in Group B ahead of their final group match against Angola on Monday, while Bafana will need to beat Zimbabwe on the same day to automatically secure a place in the last 16.

Bafana will be confident of beating Zimbabwe, having given a good account of themselves here, especially in the second half, with Mbekezeli Mbokazi notably pickpocketing Mohamed Salah.

Hugo Broos’ men, who came into the match eager to build on their 1-0 win over Egypt in the AFCON knockout stage in 2019, will feel hard done by the result.

Referee Pacifique Ndabihawenimana, following consultation with the VAR team and the pitchside monitor, ruled out a potential late penalty for Bafana after the ball struck the arm of a falling Yasser inside the box in stoppage time — a rightful call according to the rules, as Yasser’s arm was in a natural body position.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan will be delighted with the win, as his rich vein of form against Bafana continued. He was part of the Egyptian side that dethroned South Africa as AFCON champions in the 1998 final.

With South Africans winding down their Christmas celebrations on Boxing Day, the football fraternity had hoped to cap the day with a victory over Egypt that would have secured knockout-stage qualification with a game to spare.

But that was not to be, as they lost here. Bafana went into the break trailing after Mohamed Salah scored from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time — a deficit that required Broos to commit more numbers in the final third.

Unlike most fans back home nursing a “babalaz”, Bafana looked strong both on paper and on the pitch as Broos kept nine of the players who started against Angola, dropping Sipho Mbule and Mohau Nkota for Thalente Mbatha and Tshepang Moremi.

Having adopted a slightly defensive approach, Bafana dominated possession but lacked penetration. While it brought little immediate reward, it did end the Pharaohs’ habit of scoring early against South Africa at AFCON — Egypt had scored in the seventh minute of their 1996 group-stage meeting, and in the fourth and 13th minutes of the 1998 final.

Egypt, meanwhile, stuck to their attacking approach, with Salah, Omar Marmoush and Trezeguet leading the line. The trio — often the gift that keeps giving for their teams — were largely kept quiet by a rock-solid Bafana defence.

Khuliso Mudau stood out as a party-pooper for the Egyptian attack, snuffing out most threats, with Marmoush’s only real chance coming from a curling set piece that drifted inches wide.

However, in his bid to halt Egypt’s attack, Mudau was caught on the wrong side of the law after poking Salah in the eye inside the box while attempting to clear the ball.

After consulting with the VAR team and the pitchside monitor, Ndabihawenimana awarded Egypt the penalty, and Salah calmly converted with a cheeky finish.

Egypt’s joy was short-lived, though. Mohamed Hany was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a clumsy tackle on Teboho Mokoena deep into stoppage time.

With a one-man advantage but still trailing, Broos justifiably opted for a more creative approach at half-time, bringing on Mbule for Mbatha.

The change, combined with a desperate search for an equaliser, injected vigour into Bafana’s play. But despite sustained pressure, Broos’ men battered on the Pharaohs’ door without success, as Lyle Foster and company lacked the cutting edge in the final third.

Amid Bafana’s pressure, it was Egypt who nearly struck again. A short set piece conceded by Siyabonga Ngezana found Salah, but his low, driven shot was brilliantly cleared off the line by Ronwen Williams.

Mudau nearly made amends, delivering a hard, low diagonal cross that was palmed away by Mohamed El Shenawy, before the Al Ahly goalkeeper comfortably saved Aubrey Modiba’s close-range effort.

And that was how it ended. Bafana were unable to add to their supporters’ Christmas cheer — especially as they felt they were denied a late penalty — and now need to beat Zimbabwe on Monday to ensure automatic qualification for the knockout stage.